INVOLVING FAMILIES:BEGIN WITH THE BASICS
Aim to keep in touch with families instead of waiting until problems arise ~ Build a classroom web site for families to "visit" ~ Create a "How Families Can Help" handout with practical suggestions for home activities ~ Develop a parent library with books, videos and other materials to help parents guide their children's learning ~ Establish a daily homework hotline for parents to call ~ Find times for parents to contact you beyond the school day ~ Give families clear information on school policies, programs and goals ~ Hold conferences at the workplace or a neighborhood site convenient to parents ~ Include parents in school committees and other decision-making groups ~ Join with other grade- level teachers to host a brunch for parents ~ Keep classroom newsletters going home on a regular basis ~ Listen respectfully to the families of your students ~ Make home visits ~ Notice the good things your students are doing and share these frequently with their families ~ Offer workshops on parenting children and teens ~ Provide opportunities for parents to share their skills and to learn new ones ~ Quell distrust by being culturally sensitive ~ Remember that all families want the very best for their children ~ Survey parents to learn about their ideas, concerns, observations and opinions ~ Take advantage of any training on building family-school partnerships ~ Use parent volunteers to help in the classroom, make learning games, or recruit other parents ~ Videotape classroom activities or field trips that families can view at home ~ Welcome families to your school with banners, posters and smiles ~ Xerox copies of articles to share with parents ~ Yak with other teachers about good involvement methods they have used ~ Zero in on jargon --include a glossary of terms in newsletters or handbooks (and avoid it whenever possible) Please feel free to reproduce and distribute this handout with the following credit: Developed by The Family Connection of St. Joseph County, Inc. for the Indiana Center for Family, School & Community Partnerships under a grant from the Department of Education to the Indiana Parent Information Network, Inc. The content does not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. For more information, contact Kate Gill Kressley at: FSC Partnerships, 4755 Kingsway Drive, Suite 105, Indianapolis IN 46205 · 317-205-2595 · fax: 317-251-7488 · email: fscp@indy.net (3/98) |